Tips on Balancing Motherhood with Exercise

When you become a mother, you might think, “How am I going to do it all?” This is especially true when it comes to making time for your own health and wellness. Whether you are juggling a full time job or running a household along with motherhood, I’m sharing my top 10 tips to balance motherhood with exercise:

1 - Schedule it on your calendar – Plan your week out by keeping a calendar of the kids’ schedule, your work schedule, and your workout schedule! If you treat your exercise like an appointment you cannot miss, you will be less likely to make the excuses to skip them.

2 - Get an accountability buddy – Build a strong community of women around you that share similar goals. This is key to staying positive! Additionally, have a go-to friend you can turn to when you’re struggling to eat healthy or get to the gym! With this practice it’s also important to remove the negative people in your life who don’t support your goals to stay healthy and active.

3 - Work out with your kids! – Whether it’s at home or at the park, involve your kids in your daily exercise. Find fun exercises where you can use your kids as weight, or let them join you depending on their age! Not only are you getting your workout in, but you’re also setting an excellent example for your kids that exercise is important.

4 - Utilize naptime wisely – If you kids are still on a good nap schedule every day, dedicate the first portion of it to yourself. Setting up a home gym can be very affordable and save you the drive time and cost of a gym membership. If naptime is not an option, its time to set that alarm for before the kids wake up so you can start your day with a workout before the chaos begins!

5 - Bring your kids to the gym! When looking for a gym membership in your area, find a place with good childcare that understands your family needs. With an option to bring your kids to the gym with you, it eliminates the excuse to stay home!

6 - Burst, burst, burst – Burst training is one of the most effective ways to burn calories in a short amount of time. All you need is 20 minutes and your own bodyweight. Burst training consists of equal work-to-rest ratio. For example, perform a body weight exercise for 20 seconds at maximum effort, following by 20 seconds of active rest. This is a win-win for a busy schedule!

7 - Drop the guilt – Mommy-guilt gets the best of us in many facets of life, but don’t let exercise be one of them! In order to take care of everyone around you, you need to take care of yourself first! You deserve 20-45 minutes a day to dedicate to yourself in order to pour into your families and jobs.

8 - Ask your spouse for help – As mothers, we try to do everything for everybody! Ask your spouse for 30-45 minutes 2-3 times per week when he can help with the kids or dinner while you get a quick sweat in. This is also an opportunity for your spouse to have some one-on-one bonding time with the kids while you refill your tank!

9 - Focus on progress, not perfection – Juggling motherhood with a healthy, active lifestyle is no easy task. There will be days when the workout or home cooked meal fall to the wayside. Don’t let those days get you off track or feeling even guiltier. Instead, accept it and start the next day with a better plan to exercise and get closer to your fitness goals!

10 - Reward yourself – Set goals, and reward yourself when you reach them! Avoid rewarding yourself with food and instead pamper yourself with a manicure, pedicure, massage, or some new workout clothes to keep you motivated!

Morgan Kline co-founded the Burn Boot Camp fitness franchise with her husband in 2012. From a single parking lot, the brand has now multiplied to more than 100 locations nationwide. Morgan leads business operations for the team, training clients about nutrition and heading up results-driven burst training sessions. As a mom to an adorable daughter and son, Morgan loves sharing easy exercise routines, healthy food options, and tips to stay healthy during motherhood!